Hello from 2030: The Science of the Future and You

by Jan Paul Schutten

Overview

Will the future be what we think, or will our predictions be laughably wrong? Get a glimpse of what’s coming—and how we know—in this firsthand look at futurology, the science of predicting the future.

What will the future look like? From “living” homes to computers as thin as paper to cars that drive themselves, you’ll get a peek at what’s coming just around the corner in Hello from 2030.

In the year 2030, issues we’re just now starting to address will be a very big deal. Like: What will 8 billion people eat? How can humans produce less trash? Which cool technologies will be used to figure all this out?

Packed with real-world relevance and brain-stretching scenarios, this book empowers the problem solvers of tomorrow to start taking action today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781582704746
Publisher:	Aladdin/Beyond Words
Publication date:	10/07/2014
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	890L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jan Paul Schutten has been writing children's nonfiction books since 2003. A native of The Netherlands, his books are popular and critically acclaimed; he has won several awards including the Gouden Griffel (Golden Stylus) for his book Children of Amsterdam.

Read an Excerpt

Hello from 2030


Hi!

How are you? We just moved! I have a room now that can be as big as one hundred square feet. The room is next to the guest room, and when there aren’t any guests, we push my wall out as far as we can so that my room can be extra big. Then, when guests come, we just push the wall back and the guest room is bigger again.

My wall is almost seven feet high and twenty feet wide, and made of ePaper. Oh yeah, you don’t know what an ePaper wall is. It’s a big, thin, three-dimensional screen. Great for watching movies, playing games, or having as a background. You know what? Read this chapter. You’ll get to know all about homes in 2030.

A comfortable hello from 2030!


> WELCOME!
What does the house of the future look like? There’s a lot of conversation about that among architects. According to some, we won’t be living much differently in 2030 than we do now. But according to others, in a few years, homes will have totally different shapes, will be made from completely new materials, and will be filled, of course, with the latest technological gadgets. Other experts say homes won’t be made from newly invented materials but from natural stuff: walls of clay where vegetables and fruit can grow, for example.1 These are three very different ideas that are all very logical. Older homes will continue to be the way they are, but modern homes will change the most. They’ll become more environmentally friendly and power efficient. And that can be done in two ways: with natural materials and with high-tech materials.

Editorial Reviews

08/11/2014
Schutten offers a speculative guide that imagines idyllic and dire possibilities for life on Earth in 2030, contemplating the ways that home life, health, and the environment might change. Sobering thoughts about the loss of species (“Our kids call us crazy for how irresponsible we were with our world”) are tempered by exciting possibilities—for example, replacing one’s body with artificial components to prolong life indefinitely: “You’d still exist and think but, for the most part, be a robot.” Between the possibilities Schutten invokes and the many digital illustrations of imaginary futuristic tech, the book should leave readers wondering what their future might look like. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Geared for school-aged children, with little notes from future selves, [Hello from 2030?] brings up the hot topics that will change society for better or worse....It’s approach is guaranteed to get inquisitive readers searching for more.

Lea Mcbain

This title gives readers an overview of trends and possibilities in home design, technology, natural resources, energy extraction, food production, and robotics. It will enhance science discussions and independent research. The text spends more time predicting infiltration of computers in domestic life, and on occasion falls into the trope that the future equals faster and that faster is better. The text uses inventive dialogue to illustrate the pros and cons of resource use. It concludes that the sustainability of the earth is in the hands of people. The full-color layout sparks the imagination. Text call-outs cover unusual topics including the generation of power through kites. This is a book ready to laugh at itself while addressing serious issues and solutions. The book includes an extensive Notes section containing articles from National Geographic to CNET and Huffington Post. Table of Contents. Index.

March/April 2015 - Library Media Connection

Absolutely fascinating! I couldn’t put this down, and that is rare for non-fiction. I learned about science but also used my imagination. I just love this book!

Debby Vandersande

My inner SyFy geek emerged as I was enthralled page after page. I will definitely find a way to integrate this text into my curriculum.

Jessie Beth Miller

2014-08-27
A Belgian import attempts prognostication. Schutten opens and closes with the dead-cinch prediction that readers in 2030 will laugh at his views on where household tech, sustainable land and water use, medicine and robotics are heading in the near future. In between, he delivers debatable prophecies that microwave ovens will be superseded by unspecified new devices, that computer games will replace most toys and like airy claims. These are embedded in equally superficial surveys of the pros and cons of fossil and alternative energy sources, as well as cautionary looks at environmentally damaging agricultural and lifestyle practices that are in at least the early stages of being addressed. Conversely, he is blindly optimistic about the wonders of "superfoods," carrying surveillance chips in our bodies and supersmart robots managing our lives. Uncaptioned photos and graphics add lots of color but little content. A closing section of provocative questions, plus endnotes citing news stories, blog posts and other sources of more detailed information, may give would-be futurologists some reward for slogging their ways through. Readers who want to know when their jet packs and food tablets will be coming will find no answers in this mishmash of eco-sermons and vague allusions to cutting-edge technology. (index) (Nonfiction. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews

11/01/2014
Gr 5 Up—Ever wonder what food we'll be eating in 15 years? How about what kind of cars we'll drive or where our energy sources will come from? Schutten isn't quite sure, either, but he knows enough about the scientific trends to make some fair guesses in this introduction to science forecasting for the 21st century. Basing his assumptions on Moore's Law (which states that computer processing power doubles every two years), Schutten hypothesizes that other facets of the scientific world work the same way. In each chapter, Schutten discusses a different area of science, including space, energy, food, health, and robotics, and he covers the growing concerns that affect each issue. His views on negative human influences over the environment, from the proliferation of plastic to the overfishing of our waters, is evident but never overwhelming. Robot lovers will enjoy the "Age of the Robot," a chapter where futuristic cars, robosoldiers, and other gadgets are discussed. Some will find the design (featuring sections that are merely a page long) distracting, but more impatient readers may find this format quite enjoyable and engaging. Colorful graphics are included and pair nicely with the text. This book will spark discussion. Hand it to a science lover, and watch the conversation flow.—Keith Klang, Port Washington Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

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